Preservative systems and compositions comprising them

Abstract

The present invention relates to combination of actives that provides synergistic preservative action especially for use in personal care compositions. The preservative system comprises a combination of sodium benzoate and a second active selected from benzhydroxamic acid or tricarballylic acid.

1 . A composition comprising
 (a) a preservative system comprising sodium benzoate in combination with a second active selected from benzhydroxamic acid or tricarballylic acid; and   (b) a surfactant; wherein the weight ratio of the second active to sodium benzoate is in the range of 1:8 to 1:2 when the second active is benzhydroxamic acid; and   wherein the weight ratio of the second active to sodium benzoate is in the range of 1:8 to 4:1 when the second active is tricarbalyllic acid;   wherein the composition is a personal cleansing composition.   
     
     
         2 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising 0.01 to 5% of the preservative system by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the composition is higher than 3.5 and less than 11.0. 
     
     
         6 . A method of preserving a composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sodium benzoate and the second active are pre-mixed before addition to the composition to be preserved. 
     
     
         7 . The composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is included in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The composition as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the surfactant is included in an amount of 1.0% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . The composition as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the pH is 4 to 8.5. 
     
     
         10 . The composition as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the pH is 5 to 7.5.